On 13 April 2006 in Ras Laffan, around a thousand migrant workers were involved in scuffles with the police and the army, which carried out many arrests. The demonstration had broken out following the discovery of the dead bodies of two Nepalese workers in a workers’ dormitory. The protesters also insisted on access to health care, decent housing and better food. In December, 150 Nepalese workers from a food company went on strike. They denounced the ridiculously long working hours which were not even paid as overtime. The employer responded by accusing three Nepalese workers of theft. Despite the demonstrators’ protests, the three Nepalese were taken to a detention centre and later deported.
(ITUC-CSI
, Suisse
, 01/12/2007
, Annual Survey of violations of trade union rights
)